What Is a Replica IW371601?

A replica IW371601 is a copy of the IWC Portugieser Chronograph, a 41 mm stainless steel watch with a twin-register dial and piston-style pushers. The best copies run a working chronograph with a 30-minute counter at 12 o'clock and small seconds at 6 o'clock, which matches the layout of the genuine watch. Cheap copies fake one subdial, skip the chronograph, or build the case too thick.

IW371601 sits inside the IW3716 reference family, where the trailing digits mark dial color and strap choice rather than a different watch. IWC has revised this line across generations, so confirm the case size and movement for the exact production year before you compare a copy against the real thing.

Genuine IW371601 Specs That a Copy Has to Match

The original sets the measurements. A replica that misses them by more than a millimeter or two shows up fast on the wrist.

Case and crystal

  • Stainless steel case, 41 mm across, about 13 mm thick
  • Lug width of 20 mm, paired with a tapered 20/18 mm strap
  • Domed sapphire crystal with antireflective coating on both faces
  • Sapphire display back on current references, so the movement stays visible
  • Water resistance rated at 3 bar (30 m)

Dial and hands

  • Feuille (leaf) hands for hours and minutes, thin baton hands on the chronograph
  • Applied numerals at 12 and 6, printed markers elsewhere
  • Recessed registers with a snailed finish and their own depth
  • Brand text under 12, with no date window anywhere on the dial

A date at 3 o'clock is the clearest sign that a case or dial came from another model. Note it and move on.

Movement

The current genuine watch uses the IWC calibre 69355, an automatic column-wheel chronograph with a 46-hour power reserve and a 4 Hz balance. No replica carries that exact calibre. Copies use substitute movements and hide the difference behind the case back.

Movement Options Inside a Replica IW371601

Movement choice drives price, case thickness, and how the chronograph behaves. Ask which base is inside before you pay.

  • Quartz: the entry tier. Subdials are often decorative and never move, and the chronograph seconds hand ticks instead of sweeping.
  • Hand-wound Seagull ST19: a real chronograph with a slim profile and correct subdial positions. You wind it every day, and the rotor noise question disappears because there is no rotor.
  • Modified Asian 7750: automatic and mechanical, but the added chronograph module drives case height past 14 mm on many builds.
  • Decorated clone marked as 69355: the top tier. Bridges are shaped to echo the IWC calibre, so a display back holds up to a glance.

How to Check a Replica IW371601 Before Buying

  1. Start the chronograph. Both the 12 o'clock counter and the 6 o'clock seconds hand should move, and both should snap back to zero on reset.
  2. Measure the case. Aim for 41 mm across and about 13 mm thick. Anything past 14 mm wears like a different watch.
  3. Look for a date window. The IW3716 dial has none, so a date at 3 o'clock is a mismatch.
  4. Study the subdial depth. Recessed registers catch light at an angle. Flat printed rings stay dull.
  5. Request a photo of the back. A display back with a plain, undecorated rotor tells you the tier in one shot.
  6. Press the pushers. Piston pushers should travel a short, firm distance with a clear click at start and at reset.
  7. Inspect the strap and buckle. Genuine watches ship on leather with a signed pin buckle or deployant; copies often use thin hardware with shallow engraving.

Flaws That Show Up in Cheap IW371601 Copies

  • Subdial hands that never reset to zero
  • Mineral glass with a blue glare instead of sapphire
  • Case height of 15 mm or more
  • Wrong fonts and heavy printing on the dial
  • Sharp lug edges that catch on skin and cuffs
  • Stamped case back with shallow engraving
  • Rotor noise you can hear across a table

What Does a Replica IW371601 Cost?

Price tracks movement type, case finish, and strap. The figures below are ballpark ranges from listings, and they shift with the seller and the region.

  • Quartz, entry build: about $70 to $150
  • Mid tier automatic with a working chronograph: about $250 to $500
  • High tier super clone with a decorated movement and sapphire: about $500 to $900

A price far below those ranges often means quartz innards in a heavy case. A price far above them should come with movement photos and a return window.

FAQ

Does a replica IW371601 keep good time?

Automatic versions with a 7750 base or a Seagull ST19 hold time to within a few seconds a day once regulated. Quartz copies keep better time but feel wrong on the wrist, because the chronograph hand ticks.

Can a jeweler tell it is a replica?

From across a counter, no. Under a loupe, yes. Printing sharpness, buckle engraving, and movement finishing are the usual giveaways, and the case back settles the question fastest.

Can a replica IW371601 be serviced?

Independent watchmakers work on 7750 and ST19 bases with no trouble. Parts for clone calibres can be hard to source, so a service may turn into a movement swap rather than a repair.

Which strap suits the IW371601 replica?

The original ships on leather or a steel bracelet depending on the reference. A 20 mm strap in alligator-grain leather gets the look right. Measure the lugs first, because some copies ship with 21 mm spacing.